AUGUST 2021 - Zion Lutheran Church
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ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL
540 OAK PARK AVENUE, P. O. BOX 369
BEECHER, IL 60401-0369
CHURCH (708) 946-2271 SCHOOL (708) 946-2272
ZIONBEECHER@COMCAST.NET WWW.ZIONBEECHER.NET
AUGUST 2021
Table of Contents:
Pastor Rock’s Message Page 2-3
Senior Worship; Coffee Hour; Library; “Drive-Up” C. Page 4
Membership; Rev/Exp; Worship Time; AmazonSmile Page 5
Outdoor Worship; Council; Voters Page 6
Amazon; Sunday School News Page 5
Sunday School; Pastoral Call Committee Page 7
Random Notes from Various Boards Page 8-9
Options for Faithful Worship Page 9-10
“Better Together” Dinner Auction Page 10
ZLS Final Reg; VBS; Installation of Officers Page 11
Boards & Committees List Page 11-14
Brandmahl Family; ZLS Page 15
ZLS First Week Page 16
Insert: Calendars
August 2021
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
I DON’T remember EVER asking
this question on a Saturday when I “Mom, Dad, are we going
was a kid: “Mom, Dad, are we to church tomorrow?”
going to church tomorrow?”
Why did I NEVER ask that question?
Part of the answer was because I didn’t feel like wasting my breath!
Why would I bother to ask a question, the answer to which, I already
knew? “OF COURSE we’re going to church tomorrow!”
Another reason that I didn’t ask that question was because there
was a distinct possibility that by asking that foolish question, that I’d
“bring the heat” of my parents upon me! I knew that–at a minimum–
such a question would elicit a roll of the eyes from my parents; or,
far worse, that same foolish question would provide me with a mild
scolding!
They’d scold me for forgetting what we – as a family – do every
week! We worshipped together with other Christians in our little
country church each week! Period. End of story.
We children first attended Sunday School (with my mother serving as a
teacher) and then we all gathered with my father to sit in “our” pew in
church.
In late June I recorded a midweek devotion from the church of my
youth when Karen and I were in Kansas on vacation. That church
means soooooo much to me because I have soooooo many fond
memories formed in that place! Memories of my youth with my
parents and siblings sweep upon me whenever I get to enter that
gorgeous little church! And those great memories were formed by
a repeated, consistent worship habit instilled by my parents.
You, too, can have that. Regardless of how consistent (or
inconsistent) your worship life has been in the past; today, now, you
can change that and/or resolve to stay the course! Truly, by being
2
in God’s house with one’s family (and Christian family) is where
fond and lasting memories are made!
Getting back to the devotion that I recorded in my childhood church,
it was a joy to show that place to you. I hope that you’ve seen it by
now. I didn’t know until it was broadcast that the microphone didn’t
pick up my voice as I panned the church so the viewers could see
it. But, as I described the church while panning the camera, my
voice was cracking with emotion – that wonderful church means
THAT much to me!
Conversely, it’s hard for me to imagine anyone wanting to record
such a thing from their childhood ball field, fishing spot, duck blind,
lawn or garden, or anything else of this earth. That’s because none
of those “spots” have anything to do with life after one’s life on this
earth has been completed!
You see, that little country church “connects” me with fond
memories of my youth with my family; but it ALSO literally
“connects” me to be with them forever in heaven! No ball field, no
fishing spot, no duck blind, nor anything else on earth will allow
great memories of one’s childhood to continue forever! Only
through faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior, can great memories
continue throughout eternity. Period. End of story, or rather,
BEGINNING of story!
If you have allowed the bad habit to develop where you don’t or
inconsistently worship the Lord Jesus week by week, you can
change that easy enough. Simply pray that the Holy Spirit will work
within you to break such habits that keep you away from Christ and
His Means of Grace in Word and Sacrament. Call your friends who
do go to church. Perhaps ask them if you can sit with them while
you get re-accustomed to a good habit of a faithful worship life.
With the pandemic still seemingly very dynamic and volatile,
perhaps our opportunities to freely and safely gather in God’s house
might be diminished or curtailed in the future. Come to church NOW
while the opportunity is yours! Come to church NOW and rejoice in
God’s grace to you through Jesus who reaches out to you in love,
forgiveness, and eternal life! See you in church! (I really hope so!)
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Rock
3
Watch your thoughts, they become your words;
Watch your words, they become your actions;
Watch your actions, they become your habits;
Watch your habits, they become your character;
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
SENIOR WORSHIP
Thursday, August 19th @ 11 am
Volunteers Needed!
“ZION FELLOWSHIP COFFEE HOUR”
In order to continue, we will need volunteers to
help out once a month. Setting up includes
making coffee, tea water, putting out the food,
and clean-up (only takes about 30 minutes of time before church
and 30 minutes after everyone is done to clean up). So ideally we
will try to have 2 people on each week. If you like to bake, we would
welcome any baked goods to share with our members. (A sign-up
sheet is in the narthex on the goodie table.) Please contact Pat
Dermody (708) 845-9642 if you can help or have any questions.
BEECHER COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Open House and Meeting
Room Dedication
Sunday, August 1st, 2021
2pm
Refreshments will be served.
Next “Drive-Up” Communion
(after the 9 am service)
Sunday, August 1st
Please call or email if you plan to come.
4
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES AT ZION Recent
new members of Zion include the
following: Ignacio (Nacho) & Megan
Zepeda and children, Eleanor and
Andrew, transfer from Immanuel
Lutheran, Steger; Jim Kvasnicka,
Kimberly Chandler, reaffirmation of faith.
Transition of members out of Zion: Sarah Macari and sons, Rickey
& Hunter to St. Paul Lutheran, Bourbonnais; Shirley Niemeyer &
Kate Hickey, moved from area and joined other churches.
Please look for our new members so that you might become
acquainted with them as they join us on our mutual journey to the
“Heavenly Jerusalem!”
Revenue & Expense Report
Recap Month – June 2021 This Year Last Year
Beginning Balance $82,929.42 -$3,417.05
+Receipts 39,513.78 125,228.35
-Expenses: Payroll, Taxes 34,099.90 37,291.93
Bills Paid 18,881.69 19,723.30
Ending General Fund Balance $69,461.61 $64,796.07
Loans, Payables Due 0 0
Current Status of General Fund $69,461.61 $64,796.07
WORSHIP TIME CHANGE COMING
The last Monday evening worship service for the
summer will be held on Monday, August 30th at 7 pm.
We will resume our Saturday 5 pm worship service on
September 11th. Please note that on Labor Day
Weekend, only the Sunday 9 am service will be held.
Support Zion Lutheran Church & School when you
shop online with Amazon Smile. smile.amazon.com
Your unique charity link:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2480851
5
SAVE THE DATE!
After a year’s hiatus (because of you
know what!) we will once again worship
together with our two Lutheran sister
congregations of Beecher. The service
will be held at Fireman’s Park in
Beecher on Sun., Aug. 29th beginning at
10 am. It will be a “Service of the Word”
without the Lord’s Supper. Following the worship service, a meal
will be served. Also, members of the Beecher Fire Protection
District will be present with some of their equipment on display.
Plans are also being made to have a few “Comfort Dogs” from
Lutheran Church Charities present for all of us to see, pet, and
enjoy! At the time of printing this newsletter, details for the gathering
were still coming together. We hope to have more information in the
news portion of our upcoming weekly bulletins. We are hoping that
many of our community will join us that day, so please spread
the word to your friends and neighbors to join us! So… please
plan to attend on Sunday, August 29th at 10 AM. (Incidentally, we
WILL have our last Monday evening service of the summer the next day
at 7 pm if you wish to attend that service.) Lastly – bring a blanket to sit
on, or better yet, lawn chairs.
(By the way, Pastor has some very comfortable Green & Yellow
chairs available for use. Just ask!!! )
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, September 15th @ 7 pm.
VOTERS MEETING
Sunday, Sept. 26th after the 9 am service.
6
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Zion’s Board of Parish Education will re-
start our Sunday School classes for our
youth – age 3 and up this fall. We had
suspended our Sunday School classes in
March of 2020 with the onset of the Covid
outbreak. Last fall, in an effort to help our Christian Day School
operate with as high of a degree of safety as possible, we elected
to not offer Sunday School classes. (This sacrifice of our Sunday
School helped our Day School honor their commitment to school
parents to keep the classrooms as clean as possible – that is, the
only students using the classrooms were ZLS students.)
However, as we put this newsletter together, a degree of “normalcy”
is now present and we no longer see the urgent need to cancel our
Sunday School classes in deference to the need to keep those
same classrooms as germ-free as possible.
We plan to hold our first Sunday School classes the Sunday after
Labor Day Weekend – Sunday, September 12th at 8 am. Please
pray that our resumption of classes will go smoothly and that the
parents of many children will take advantage of this Christian
education opportunity.
PASTORAL CALL COMMITTEE
The first step that needed to be done to
issue a Call to our next pastor has been
completed. In late spring, many members
provided input regarding various aspects
of Zion’s present ministry. Those results
were compiled and are available on the shelves near the water
fountains at the west entrance to the narthex.
We have now entered the second step of the process. Now
members may submit the names of pastors who they know or are
familiar and seek to have those men considered to be Zion’s next
pastor. If you have a name to submit for consideration, please email
or call Ron Janota with the pastor’s name and the congregation he
is presently serving. Ron's email address is: rgjanota@aol.com
Telephone #708-814-2905. Please continue to pray that the Holy
Spirit blesses this effort.
7
RANDOM NOTES FROM VARIOUS BOARDS
Board of Christian Day School Zion's
Board of Christian Day School met with
our new principal, Mrs. Kelly Henning,
on July 26th. Time was spent getting to
know one another. Mrs. Henning brought some excellent ideas
to the board for their approval. One such idea was a curriculum
for each age group in our school to help any students adjust to
school -- especially in light of the pandemic. (Studies show that
many American youth have concerns with many things as a
result of the endless negative news reports that they have been
hearing for so long.) We look forward to establishing a strong
working relationship with Mrs. Henning and our entire staff!
Please pray for them as they and our students return to the
classroom later this month.
Board of Trustees We continue to be quite busy! Many
maintenance projects have been done. Although relatively
small, nonetheless, they still demand attention and time. The
repair of two of our air conditioners is presently in process.
Hopefully that will be completed very soon. We are also
securing bids to replace the cement sidewalks on the east side
of the church that run along Oak Park Ave. as well as the
sidewalk that leads into the church past the bell tower. We are
also receiving bids to restore our parking lot beginning from the
entrance on the south side of the church, going around the
church and school, and ending where the north entrance
connects with Oak Park Avenue on the northeast edge of the
property. This must be done due to normal deterioration of the
asphalt. We hope to launch that project in the summer of 2022.
As always we eagerly look for assistance with our never-ending
work!
Board of Elders As this newsletter is being assembled, the
Elders are planning to meet in early August. Among their
agenda items will be consideration of reverting back to our
former distribution methods for Holy Communion. Please see
8
your elder if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas
regarding this. Please keep in mind that we must consider
several hundred member’s thoughts and ideas about what is
“the best way” to faithfully conduct our services. Thank you.
Stewardship/Outreach The "4th in the Fall Festival" is right
around the corner! It runs through Labor Day weekend -
September 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th. That means BINGO! We will be
looking for ticket sellers and table runners. Shifts run between
2 - 2 1/2 hours. Make it a family time. Older kids are welcome
to help. This is a great way for Zion to be present in the
community! Any questions they can call Margie Cook @ 708-
805-1440, or Debbie Falaschetti @ 708-252-0095
FAITHFUL WORSHIP OPTIONS OFFERED BY ZION:
“Old Fashioned” IN PERSON Worship We
have seen a marked increase of people
attending our Sun. & Mon. services in the past
few weeks. Please consider attending in person if that is a
viable option for you. Certainly, if your health dictates that you
cannot yet personally attend, please take advantage of our
“electronic options” for worship shown below.
“Livestream” Using Facebook & YouTube Utilize Facebook
or YouTube to watch when Zion “goes live” for either Sun.
morning worship or midweek devotions. Requires internet
access. Here are the links: Facebook: Zion's Facebook Page
YouTube: Zion Lutheran YouTube
“PhoneLiveStreaming” When Zion “Goes Live” This option
is mostly for those who do not have internet capability. Call (toll
free) 1-844-806-7617 to register your phone (landline OR cell)
to automatically receive a call when Zion “goes live” for our
Sunday worship service or Midweek Devotions (see below).
You may also call this number anytime during the week to listen
to a recording of the last time that we “went live” at Zion.
Midweek “e-Devotions” Pastor Rock tries to provide a
midweek devotion each week. Through August, the devotion
will be available on Wednesdays before noon. The devotions
are “livestreamed” onto our three media channels: Facebook,
9
YouTube, and the PhoneLiveStreaming application. Each
devotion is from 8-15 minutes in length.
Options for Faithful Worship Other than Zion:
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Station City, State Freq Band Day Time
WGN Chicago, IL 720 AM Sun 6:00 AM
WRMN Elgin, IL 1410 AM Sun 9:00 AM
WKEI Kewanee, IL 1450 AM Sun 9:00 AM
WJOB Hammond, IN 1230 AM Sun 10:00 AM
Worship Anew
DIRECTV - Sunday at 10:30am - channel 377
Comcast Cable - Sunday at 11:30am - channel 138
WPWR50 (CW) - Sunday at 8:00am – (antenna 50)
(Online viewing at www.worshipanew.org)
“BETTER TOGETHER”
ZION DINNER AUCTION
Saturday, October 23rd
11th Zion Lutheran Church and School
Dinner Auction Saturday, October 23rd at
Glenwoodie Golf Club, 19301 State Street,
Glenwood, IL. Scrementi's Banquets will cater
the event. Ticket sales begin August 1st
following church. Tickets are $50 each.
Purchase a table of 10 tickets to sit with your friends! Purchase your
tickets early to receive a free drink ticket. A Silent Auction is being
planned and Kraft Auctions will again be leading our live auction!
Ways you can help are: get a group of friends together to attend,
donate items for the silent &/or live auction (forms are in the
narthex), help on Oct. 23 w/set-up, and/or join the committee. Next
Dinner Auction Committee Meeting is Tuesday, August 10th @
5:30pm. (All are welcome to join!)
102021-2022 FINAL REGISTRATION
Zion Lutheran School final registration is
Wednesday, August 4th 7am-noon & 1-7
pm. Appointments are not required – the
process will be on a “first come, first served”
basis. If unable to register on August 4th, please call Ms. Lucy (708-
946-2272) to make alternative arrangements.
DESTINATION DIG – ONE DAY VBS
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
330 Highland Drive
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Sat., August 14, 2021 – 10am to 3pm
Children PreK – 8th Grade
VBS Director – Liz Bellamy 708-772-0640 or
708-754-4493
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
Sunday, August 1st
during the 9am Divine
Worship Service
(see list of officers/boards below)
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL
Beecher, Illinois
Boards & Committees
2021-2022 (approved May 23, 2021)
Chairman 2 Years
Will Strenge 7/31/23
Vice Chairman 2 Years
Robert Barber 7/31/22
Secretary 2 Years
Margie Cook 7/31/22
Treasurer 3 Years
Arlene Leodler 7/31/23
11Elders – Minimum 10 (to vote 4) 3 Years
John Engstrom 7/31/24
Ron Janota 7/31/24
Michael Rivas 7/31/24
Kevin Daugherty 7/31/24
Tom Jansma 7/31/22
Mark Svenningsen (Secretary) 7/31/22
Jim Dermody 7/31/22
Adrian Adam ` 7/31/22
David Mills (Chair) 7/31/23
Chuck Krug 7/31/23
Adam Miller 7/31/23
Jerry Storbeck 7/31/23
Trustees - Minimum 5 (to vote 3) 3 Years
Mike Boudreau 7/31/24
Ben Mills 7/31/24
Elliott Pequette 7/31/22
Bill Shapkauski 7/31/22
Paul Eggert 7/31/22
Tony Triola 7/31/23
Landis Wehrmann 7/31/23
Finance- Minimum 5 (to vote 3) 3 Years
Rhonda Campbell 7/31/24
Bill Shapkauski (Chair) 7/31/24
Arlene Leodler (Secretary) 7/31/24
Ron Stluka 7/31/22
Donna Barber 7/31/22
Christian Day School- 3 Years
Minimum 5 (to vote 3)
Kim Daugherty 7/31/24
Vacant 7/31/24
Greg Hammer (Chair) 7/31/22
Laura Mills 7/31/22
Roger Phillips 7/31/22
Brad Johnson 7/31/23
Janice Boicken 7/31/23
Parish Education- 3 Years
Minimum 5 (to vote 3)
12Dan Bockelmann (Chair) 7/31/24
Jana Hopper 7/31/24
Vacant 7/31/22
Bev Cooper 7/31/22
Kay Bunte 7/31/23
Board of Stewardship/Outreach- 3 Years
Minimum 5 (to vote 3)
Vacant 7/31/24
Margie Cook (Chairman) 7/31/24
Rhonda Campbell 7/31/22
Debbie Falaschetti 7/31/22
Jacob Mills 7/31/22
Janice Brands 7/31/23
Pat Dermody 7/31/23
Karen Rock (Ex-Officio)
House/Endowment- Fund
Greg Hammer - Treasurer/Chairman
Donna Barber
Wendell Wehling
John Wunderlich
Teller Committee
Robert Barber – Chairman
Capital Projects Fund
Bill Shapkauski – Treasurer
St. Paulus Cemetery Board
Zion Members St. Paul Members
Gerald Bachert Fred Hoffmeyer
Tim Ohlendorf Stan Weishaar
Doug Short Steve Weishaar
Steve Squier
Wil Gronewold Scholarship Fund Committee
Art Blum
Principal
Pastor Ron Rock
Good Samaritan Committee
Roy DeGroot
13Ron Stluka
David Mills
Kay Bunte
Dorcas Society
Kay Bunte, President
Debbie Falaschetti, Vice President
Janice Strenge, Secretary
Rhonda Campbell, Treasurer
Christian Growth
Janice Strenge
L.W.M.L.
Rhonda Campbell
Altar Committee
Peggy Stoeven (Chair)
Senior Choir
(none)
Adult Handbells
Jessie Svenningsen-Vales
Banner Committee
Kay Bunte
Audit Committee
Margie Cook (Chair)
Janice Strenge
June Becker
Call Committee 2021
Christa Adam
Kay Bunte
Paul Eggert
Greg Hammer
Ron Janota (Chair)
Brad Johnson
Dave Mills
Mindy Nykaza
Will Strenge
14YOU’VE GOT MAIL!
[Note – Correspondence addressed
to our congregation-at-large
periodically is delivered. Shown
below are two letters that recently
arrived.]
From the Brandmahl Family (our “adopted”
seminary family)
July, 2021
Dear Zion Congregation,
Thank YOU for your continuing support for us
as we continue making our way through the seminary and vicarage
years! Our vicarage year was completed on Sunday, July 25th. We
are now in the process of moving back to Ft. Wayne so that Joshua
can complete his final year of academic instruction. We are very
anxious to return and compare notes with the other families who
also were “on vicarage” this past year! Attached is our most recent
“newsletter.” [Zion members – you may find that newsletter posted
on the bulletin board in the hallway outside of the Conference
Room. Note that they have some exciting news in that letter!]
/s/ Joshua & Ashley Brandmahl
The faculty & staff of Zion Lutheran School,
in grateful thanksgiving to our loving and
merciful Savior, is looking forward to another
school year with your family! In the midst of
world uncertainty, we claim God’s promise of
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have
for you, “declares the Lord,” plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future. We will begin our school year with the Faculty
Rededication on Sunday, August 22nd, at the 9am Worship
Service and an Opening Worship Service at 1pm. An ice cream
social will be hosted by Zion PTL after the 1pm service. There is no
better way to start our year than to worship together!
15FROM:
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
540 Oak Park Ave., P.O. Box 369
Beecher, IL 60401
Rev. Ronald D. Rock, Senior Pastor
Mrs. Kelly Henning, Principal
Church 708-946-2271 School 708-946-2272
Zionbeecher@comcast.net Zionbraves@comcast.net
WWW.zionbeecher.net FAX 708-946-2611
TO:
ZLS – FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
8/24 K-8 8:10am-11:10am
8/25 First full day of school for K-8 & first day for 4yr PreK
8/26 First day for 3yr Preschool
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